Method for making a fabricated wooden product

ABSTRACT

A wooden product and a method of fabricating the product characterized by the steps of forming a plurality of construction members of an annular configuration, each including a plurality of wooden blocks mated in an abutting, end-to-end relation, and adhesively uniting the construction members in a coaxial and contiguous relationship, for thus forming a tubular body and thereafter finishing the external surfaces of the body to a predetermined configuration by removing therefrom excess material.

United States Patent 1 [111 3,788,372

Terenzoni Jan. 29, 1974 [54] METHOD FOR MAKING A FABRICATED 285,455 9/1883 Bigford 144/309 A WOO PRODUCT 26,898 1/1860 Forest 144/309 A 3,448,883 6/1969 Boswell 144/33 X [76] Inventor: Amerlgo Terenzoni, 821 Third St.,

Fresno Calif 93612 Primary ExaminerAndrew R. Juhasz [22] Filed: Jan. 21, 1972 Assistant ExaminerW. D. Bray 2 pp No 219 773 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Huebner & Worrel [57] ABSTRACT [52] U.S. Cl 144/316, 161/7, 161/37,

144/309 L 156/264 156/266 A wooden product and a method of fabricating the [51] Int. Cl B27d l/08 product charactenzed by the Steps of formmg a plural [53] Field of Search." 161, 37; 156/63 154, 258, ity of construction members of: an annular configura- 156/264 266, 144/33, 309, 309 A, 309 tion, each including a plurality of wooden blocks Q, 313, 3 14:315lij3l5 K: 3 lg fij ffjfifi mated in an abutting, end-to-end relation, and adhesively uniting the construction members in a coaxial 56] Referencs Cited 2mg COnlggfUS ritlations hlilp, fotrhthus tforming aftubula;

o y an erea er ims mg e ex erna sur aces 0 UNITED STfATES PATENTS the body to a predetermined configuration by removgggqgg $223 $311 113181222 )L( ing th f excess materiaL 1 ion 6 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures METHOD FOR MAKING A FABRICATED WOODEN PRODUCT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to improved products fabricated from wood and an economic and practical method for fabricating the product.

The art of fabricating products from wood is notoriously old. However, as the so-called population explosion continues at the expense of natural resources, large stands of timber necessarily are destroyed with an attending depletion of natural resources and an increase in the economic costs of stock material from which wooden products are fabricated.

In the past, attempts have been made to employ multiple lengths of wood, in fabricating cylindrical and/or tubular bodies, by arranging elongated slats in mutual parallelism. Bodies produced by this method, of course, frequently separate along the junction lines of the slats.

Another method frequently employed in fabricating cylindrical bodies is to first glue a plurality of superimposed blocks of wood into an integrated mass and thereafter shape the mass. While this technique can be employed rather efficiently, it should be apparent that the quantity of wood and the time expended are rather extensive. These deficiencies, of course, are magnified in instances where the resulting mass is shaped to a tubular configuration.

Hence, one of the unsolved problems inherent in producing from wood products having desirable esthetic qualities is that of protecting the ever-diminishing source of stock materials. While it has long been recognized that so-called scrap material can be fabricated into usable products, currently employed methods fail to adequately meet existing needs since the methods frequently employed often are quite expensive in terms of time and material and frequently result in products deficient in appearance and/or durability.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the instant invention to provide an improved product fabricated from discreet blocks of wood.

Another object is to provide an improved method for fabricating products from wood.

Another object is to provide an improved method for fabricating products from remnant lengths of wood discarded in the course of unrelated fabrication operations.

It is another object to provide a method for fabricating durable wooden products having improved esthetic qualities.

Another object is to provide a method for fabricating durable wooden products from a plurality of discreet, superimposed wooden blocks, arranged in an end-toend engagement.

It is another object to provide a practical, efficient and economic method for fabricating durable products, from remnants of wood, which includes the steps of forming multiple construction members, each being of an annular configuration from a plurality of discreet wooden blocks united in an end-to-end and abutted engagement, and superimposing the construction members into an integrated mass having an axial bore of a varying diameter.

These together with other objects and advantages will become readily apparent upon reference to the following description and claims in light of the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a wooden product fabricated according to the method embodying the principles of the instant invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation illustrating the product of FIG. 1 at a stage of fabrication preceding its finish.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a sectional plan view, taken generally along line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a perspective, fragmentary view, on somewhat of an enlarged scale, of an assembled array of wooden blocks united in end-to-end and superimposed engagement.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, there is shown in FIG. 1 a product 10 which embodies the principles of the instant invention and which is fabricated according to a method, also embodying the principles of the instant invention.

As illustrated, the product 10 is a vase, however, for reasons which should readily be apparent, the product 10 can be configured to assume various shapes, including columns and irregular tubes in order to facilitate a fabrication of various objects such as lamps, chairs, tables and other ornamental and functional structures.

In order to fabricate the product 10, multiple lengths of wooden slats, not shown, having longitudinal axes which extend substantially parallel to the grain of the wood, are severed into discreet blocks 12. These blocks are cut at preselected angles and to predetermined lengths, and then united in end-to-end engagement, along a junction line 14, to form construction members 16 of an annular configuration with the junction lines 14 lying on a radius R of the construction member 16 within which it is incorporated. For reasons which should readily be apparent, the particular angle selected is dictated by the number of blocks employed, while the length of the blocks is determined by the ultimate diameter of the construction member 16. As a practical matter, staples 18 are employed in uniting the discreet blocks 12 in end-to-end engagement for forming each of the construction members 16.

The construction members 16 subsequently are superimposed in tiers and secured together through a use of layers 20 of a suitable adhesive interposed between the construction members. Preferably, the adhesive employed is one selected from a class of adhesives which includes casein glue and the like.

The construction members 16 are stacked in superimposition so as to be coaxially related with adjacent construction members. Thus, a plurality of the construction members establishes a tubular body 22, preferably configured to conform generally to the overall contour of the product to which the body is to be finished. For example, where the product 10 is to be configured into a vase, as depicted in FIG. 1, the body 22 preferably is contoured to the shape of a vase by stacking the construction members 16 in an order dictated by their diameters. As depicted by the contour line 24, FIGS. 2 and 3, excess material is removed from the exterior of the body 22 so that the product ultimately is provided with an uninterrupted surface.

In stacking the construction members 16 to form a body, the junction lines 14 are staggered so that they lie in vertical planes bisecting the blocks 12 of the adjacent construction members 16. This arrangement of the blocks 12, within the body 22, and ultimately the finished product 10, enhances the strength of the resulting product, as well as enhancing the esthetic qualities of the product.

As a practical matter, it should readily be apparent that the weathering of the product 10 also is enhanced, due to the fact that none of the end-grains are exposed to the surface of the product and the edge-grains on at least two sides are embedded in a mass of adhesive. Hence, cracking and splitting of the blocks. along the grains of the blocks 12, or weathering, substantially are precluded.

In practice, the exterior of the body 22 is finished by mounting the body on a suitable wood lathe, not shown, and thereafter employing conventional woodworking techniques in turning the body to its ultimate configuration. However, it should readily be apparent that, where so desired, the body 10 may be finished employing hand tools of suitable types.

Once the body 22 has been configured to a selected contour, the exterior surface of the body is smoothed and stained employing any wood stain suitable for the intended purpose, and thereafter coats of finishing substances, such as wax and the like, are applied in a manner consistent with known wood-working practices. The following statements provide a brief summary of the invention as hereinbefore described.

In fabricating the disclosed product employing the method of the instant invention, a plurality of nonuniform construction members 16 of an annular configuration are fabricated by first severing a plurality of slats of a uniform cross-sectional dimension, along junction lines coinciding with the radius of the construction members, to thus provide a plurality of discreet wooden blocks 12. The blocks 12 are abutted and united in an end-to-end engagement through the use of suitable fastening means such as staples 18. The construction members 16 then are adhesively united in a stacked, coaxial relationship for forming a body 22 having a configuration approximating that desired for the finished product 10. A suitable adhesive, such as casein glue is employed in adhesively uniting the members in an integrated mass. Once the construction members are united to form the body 22, having an overall contour generally conforming to the contour of the product 10, the external surface of the body is finished by removing sufficient quantities of the wooden material to provide the body with an uninterrupted ex ternal surface, as illustrated in FIG. 1. Thereafter, appropriate staining and finishing steps are employed in providing the thus fabricated product with a selected appearance to enhance its durability and esthetic qualities.

In view of the foregoing, it should readily be apparent that the instant invention is embodied in a finished product fabricated employing a method which readily facilitates a use of so-called scrap materials in providing durable finished products having a particularly pleasing appearance.

Although the invention has been shown and described in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred method and product, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention, which is not to be limited to the illustrative details disclosed.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A method of fabricating durable wooden products having a curved exterior surface characterized by a checkered, edge-grain appearance comprising the steps of:

A. cross-cutting wooden slats into blocks of preselected lengths and at predetermined angles, relative to the direction of the grain thereof, to provide a multiplicity of discreet blocks having edge-grains exposed along the side surfaces thereof;

B. uniting selected blocks in abutted, end-to-end engagement to provide a plurality of wooden construction members of substantially annular configurations with the end surfaces of each block being disposed in planes extended along the radii of the construction members;

C. uniting the construction members in a contiguous,

coaxial relationship to form a tubular body;

D. shaping the exterior surface of the body to provide a substantially continuous unbroken surface; and

E. applying a finishing substance to said surface.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of uniting the construction members is further characterized by the additional step of positioning the midpoints of the discreet blocks of each construction member in planes coincident with the planes within which end surfaces of the blocks of the adjacent construction members are disposed as the construction members are united in c0- axial and contiguous relationship.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the step of forming multiple construction members is further characterized by the step of joining the discreet blocks in an abutted end-to-end engagement by applying staples thereto.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the step of forming multiple construction members is characterized by the step of applying adhesive between the adjacent surfaces of the blocks, and the step of uniting the construction members in a contiguous coaxial relationship is further characterized by the step of applying adhesive between the contiguous surfaces of adjacent construction members.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the step of uniting the blocks in an abutted end-to-end engagement is further characterized by the step of applying staples to said blocks.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said blocks are united to form construction members of non-uniform diameters. 

1. A method of fabricating durable wooden products having a curved exterior surface characterized by a checkered, edge-grain appearance comprising the steps of: A. cross-cutting wooden slats into blocks of preselected lengths and at predetermined angles, relative to the direction of the grain thereof, to provide a multiplicity of discreet blocks having edge-grains exposed along the side surfaces thereof; B. uniting selected blocks in abutted, end-to-end engagement to provide a plurality of wooden construction members of substantially annular configurations with the end surfaces of each block being disposed in planes extended along the radii of the construction members; C. uniting the construction members in a contiguous, coaxial relationship to form a tubular body; D. shaping the exterior surface of the body to Provide a substantially continuous unbroken surface; and E. applying a finishing substance to said surface.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of uniting the construction members is further characterized by the additional step of positioning the midpoints of the discreet blocks of each construction member in planes coincident with the planes within which end surfaces of the blocks of the adjacent construction members are disposed as the construction members are united in coaxial and contiguous relationship.
 3. The method of claim 2 wherein the step of forming multiple construction members is further characterized by the step of joining the discreet blocks in an abutted end-to-end engagement by applying staples thereto.
 4. The method of claim 3 wherein the step of forming multiple construction members is characterized by the step of applying adhesive between the adjacent surfaces of the blocks, and the step of uniting the construction members in a contiguous coaxial relationship is further characterized by the step of applying adhesive between the contiguous surfaces of adjacent construction members.
 5. The method of claim 4 wherein the step of uniting the blocks in an abutted end-to-end engagement is further characterized by the step of applying staples to said blocks.
 6. The method of claim 5 wherein said blocks are united to form construction members of non-uniform diameters. 